STLCC-Meramec’s Peer Tutoring Division Earns ITTP Certification

The peer tutoring division of the Academic Support Center at St. Louis Community College-Meramec has earned certification from the College Reading and Learning Association’s International Tutor Training program. 

The goal of ITTP certification is to provide internationally accepted standards of skills and training for peer tutors in postsecondary educational institutions. 

Staff who assisted in this endeavor were Cindy Clausen, manager of the Academic Support Center; Jill Mueller and Lindsey McCoy, professional tutors; Asma Zangana, math tutoring supervisor; Sanela Mesic, director of the Trio program; and Sally Kloppe, academic support coordinator who will lead efforts to gain three-year certification. 

Meramec’s tutor training program earned certification by establishing and documenting:

• Sound hiring practices, to ensure the hiring of content-knowledgeable peers.
• Planned training experience, including a minimum of 10 hours and a minimum number of recommended training topics, such as assertiveness and critical thinking skills.
• Direct tutoring experience with students for a minimum of 25 hours.
• Regular evaluations by knowledgeable and experienced evaluators.

Certification also allows for recognition of the center’s trained student-tutors as credentialed CRLA program tutors. Peer tutors can add this credential to their resumes and talk about training and experience in future interviews.